Gypenosides are saponins extract derived from
Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino,
also known as
Jiaogulan.
Gypenosides
have been used for treating hepatitis and
cancer in Asia, particularly China.
They inhibit the onset and improve the recovery of
liver fibrosis induced by CCl(4) in rats.

Gypenosides and grape seed
extract for diabetes
A combination of grape seed-derived procyanidins and gypenosides alleviates
insulin resistance in mice and HepG2 cells.
J Food Sci. 2009; College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering,
China Agricultural Univ., Beijing, China.
This study investigated the effects of grape seed-derived procyanidins,
gypenosides, and combination procyanidins/gypenosides on insulin resistance in
mice and HepG2 cells. Our data suggest that the combination of gypenosides and
grape seed-derived procyanidins may have functional efficacy in consumers with
insulin resistance.

Gypenosides and cancer cell death
Gypenosides induce apoptosis in human hepatoma Huh-7
cells through a calcium/reactive oxygen species-dependent mitochondrial pathway.
Planta Med. 2007. School of Post-baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China
Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
We have previously reported that gypenosides induce apoptosis in human
hepatocarcinoma Huh-7 cells through a mitochondria-dependent caspase-9
activation cascade. In order to further explore the critical events leading to
apoptosis in gypenoside treated cells, the following effects of gypenosides on
components of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were examined: generation of
reactive oxygen species (ROS), alteration of the mitochondrial membrane
potential (MPT), and the subcellular distribution of Bcl-2 and Bax. We propose
that the rise in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration plays a pivotal role in the
initiation of gypenosides triggered apoptotic death.

Memory and cognitive function
Gypenoside LXXIV Ameliorates Scopolamine-Induced Learning Deficit in Mice.
Planta Med. 2010. Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee
University, Dongdaemun-Ku, Seoul, Korea.
Gypenoside LXXIV (G-74), a major constituent of GYNOSTEMMA PENTAPHYLLUM Makino, was isolated and its memory-enhancing effects were
investigated in scopolamine-treated mice in passive-avoidance and Morris water
maze tests. G-74 potently reversed memory impairment caused by scopolamine. G-74
also significantly shortened the scopolamine-prolonged escape latencies in the
Morris water maze test (p < 0.05) and increased the scopolamine-shortened
swimming time within the platform quadrant. Based on these findings, G-74 might
improve learning deficits.

Which are more potent as antixodiants, catechins from
green tea extract or gypenosides from Jiaogulan?
We have not seen studies comparing them.